His predecessor, Cardinal Mahony: “I cannot imagine that this decision was released without the explicit knowledge and approval of President Barack Obama. And I cannot imagine a more direct and frontal attack on freedom of conscience than this ruling today.

“As Bishops we do not recommend candidates for any elected office. My vote on November 6 will be for the candidate for President of the United States and members of Congress who intend to recognize the full spectrum of rights under the many conscience clauses of morality and public policy. If any candidate refuses to acknowledge and to promote those rights, then that candidate will not receive my vote.” [italics added]

The bishop of Pittsburgh: “The Obama administration has just told the Catholics of the United States, ‘To Hell with you!’ There is no other way to put it.”

The bishop of Wichita: “My hope is . . . that we will contact our elected leaders and let them know that we do not want to be forced to act against our beliefs, we or anyone else, and that we want religious liberty and conscience protection restored.”

The archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, who also heads the bishops’ conference: Administration “on the wrong side of the constitution . . . a foul ball . . . never before . . .we can’t afford to strike out . . .”